A/N: Hello guys! Thank you for your reviews on the last chapter, I'm glad you liked the soppy bromance :) This one is a prompt from Smuffly who asked for Grissom and Greg, around the time Greg first became a CSI. I quite liked writing this one because I don't normally concentrate on Grissom an awful lot, but I like to portray him as a good mentor figure :)

Summary – After Greg makes a dangerous move out on the field, Grissom talks to the young CSI and finds out how Greg feels in his new job.


With Your Approval

Greg Sanders sat in the chair with his legs crossed over, fidgeting with his hands and looking anywhere except at the man sat opposite him. He felt like a child at school being sent to the principal's office as his supervisor Gil Grissom sat across his desk, looking at Greg over the top of his wise man glasses. The majority of creepy things Grissom kept in jars on his shelves had never really interested Greg, because they freaked the young man out, but suddenly they were all but too fascinating for him.

Greg could see out the corner of his eye that Grissom was looking at him. The fact the supervisor looked so calm was the thing that worried the new CSI most. If Grissom just looked angry, Greg would know for sure he was in trouble, but because the supervisor could hide his emotions so well, Greg felt he was at a huge disadvantage.

He felt like Grissom was just waiting for him to crack, being able to see right through Greg and searching his soul. The young CSI wondered if this was how Grissom's suspects felt under interrogation, because just being under the supervisors stare made Greg want to confess every bad thing he'd ever done in his life. As cliché as it was, the silence was deafening. Greg had outright told Grissom how the older man made him nervous, and now Greg was working for him, it seemed to be getting worse than better.

"Why did you do it Greg?" Grissom asked calmly after what seemed like hours of silence for the young CSI.

"Because I…" Greg started, but then bit his lip. He wasn't really sure why.

"Well, what were you thinking, at the time?" Grissom steadily pressed.

"Catch the suspect" Greg mumbled, still choosing to look at the floor. "We've worked too long and too hard. He's hurt so many people. Catch the suspect"

"So, you felt that it was your responsibility to chase the suspect?" Grissom asked. "Even though you're not an officer nor were you armed."

"I didn't…" Greg exhaled and closed his eyes as he tried to gather his thoughts. When he opened them again he looked at his supervisor for the first time. "I didn't think it was my responsibility. It was just something I had to do for the civilians and myself" Greg snapped his mouth shut after this, feeling he'd said too much.

"And why did you… have to do it for yourself?" Grissom asked. He finally felt like he was getting somewhere with the young man.

"Well…let's just say if it had been any of the others, they would have done the same thing" Greg said quietly.

"Yes, but they have all been a CSI for a lot longer than you have, and they all carry guns" Grissom pointed out. Greg dropped his head looking a little ashamed. "Not that I'm saying I would have approved if any of them had tried it."

"I just… wanted to show I was just as good" Greg mumbled to the floor. He sighed and looked at his supervisor with saddened eyes "I just wanted to prove that I could do it."

"Greg, it doesn't show anything about your ability as a CSI. Chasing the suspects is not in a CSI's job description" Grissom pointed out. "Look, I'm not concerned about the fact you chased the suspect. I'm concerned about the fact you could have been hurt"

Greg looked a little surprised by this revelation. He didn't think Grissom would care that much. "I'm sorry, Sir" Greg said. Grissom found the comment quiet unnecessary. "It's just…I'm the newbie okay, and I'm still young, at least that's what you guys tell me. I just want to shake this image out of people's minds that I'm still the goofball lab rat, and I'm not. I want…no I need to prove myself" there was a slight shimmer appearing in Greg's eyes as he said this. Then the young man gave a humourless laugh "Well you know what maybe I was wrong. Maybe I can never shake that image, and maybe I was stupid to think I could do this."

"You weren't wrong, Greg" Grissom said, again to the younger man's surprise. "Changing your career if it meant making you happy was always the right thing to do. As for wanting to be taken seriously…your hair is flat."

Greg gave his supervisor a confused look "What?" he said tousling said hair about nervously.

"Greg, it's common knowledge around here that you changed your hair every few weeks" Grissom spoke, with a small smile. It both relieved Greg and embarrassed him. "But the way you've toned it down, shows how serious you are about toning down the antics from your lab days to be seen as a serious professional out in the field."

"Well… I guess so" Greg said with a nervous laugh as he finally stopped fiddling with his hair. "It's just…you all have your place, you know? You're the boss. Catherine's like the mom everyone turns to. Sara's the determined and feisty go-getter. Warrick's all hard and super street smart. And Nick's all caring and stuff… were does that leave me? The young, stupid one?"

"And why do you feel you're so…stupid?" Grissom continued his questioning.

"Because…well just look at the way I act!" Greg said growing slightly angry with himself now. "And whenever I was in one of your meetings I use to just sit there and wonder what the hell you were talking about?! And… I can't quote Shakespeare off the top of my head; I don't listen to classical music or read poetry."

"And that's what you think it means to be smart?" Grissom asked raising an eyebrow.

"Well…when I'm around you at least." Greg mumbled as he grew embarrassed again.

"Greg, do you or do you not have a chemistry degree from Stanford University?" Grissom asked.

"Well, yes but…"

"So there's your book smarts. And do you or do you not have a wide range of friends here who care about you?"

"I guess…"

"Well there's your social skills. Greg, everyone is smart in their own way, but everyone is stupid or ignorant in their own way too. You think when I hear you, Nick and Warrick talking football I have any idea what the hell you're going on about?" Grissom asked seriously.

"Apparently not" Greg said with an awkward smile.

Grissom smiled back "So, in conclusion, you are a very valued member of my team, and I wouldn't have allowed you on it if I didn't think you could handle it. I'm proud of the progress you've made. Now, what you did today was to a degree…inconsiderate. But it was very brave too. Your heart was in the right place" The older CSI reassured Greg.

"Thank you, Sir" Greg said giving his supervisor a very genuine smile. "I'll be sure to think twice next time."

"You're welcome" Grissom said with a soft smile. "And remember… A truly strong person does not need the approval of others any more than a lion needs the approval of sheep."

Greg smiled "And who said that?"

"Vernon Howard. American spiritual teacher, author, and philosopher." Grissom told him.

"Well, regarding my actions today. Sometimes the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Greg replied.

"And who said that?" Grissom asked.

"Spock, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" Greg said with his trademark cheeky smile and Grissom couldn't help but give a light laugh.

"Now that's smart"


So, yeah :P I hope you liked it! Probably one of my favourite Trekkie quotes XD (Don't own Star Trek by the way, just as a disclaimer) Bit weird at the end and as always, I worry about keeping Grissom in character.

Anyways, give me more prompts to gobble up! And as always, reviews are loved :) x